utah,from salt lake city, michael is on our line for democrats. caller: hello. i was going to ask if there were any studies about how much retirement has dropped. don't they qualify for their social security benefits as everybody else who is not military? about well, i do not know the use of the word "double dipping," other than there are extreme cases where there are --sical if the bills of the physical disabilities. to your point about social security, yes, all these guys will be available for it, but only after they have reached the age of 65. a generous component of military retirement as you can have a guy retired -- a guy and listed in years, isserved 20 out before 40 years old, and he will get some form of retirement benefit in immediately, and the average life expectancy, for another 30, 34 years. to serve 60 years who serve only 20. that is one of the sensitive things on the table right now, the besthat is really way to do things. host: our guest is andrew tilghman of "the military times." let's go to fred on our line for independents. caller: thank you